Fastener magazine



Nov. 15, 1966 H. c. LINGLE FASTENER MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1964 /N VE N TOR A TTORNE'YS.

Nov. 15, 1966 H. c. LINGLE FASTENER MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24, 1964 Nil?) /V VEA/TUR.

@QW f'U TTOR/VEYS.

United States Patent() 3,285,489 FASTENER MAGAZINE Harrison C. Lingle, Wilmette, lll., assignor to Signode Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,604 7 Claims. (Cl. 227-113) This invention relates to fastener driving tools and, particularly, to a magazine for such tools in which the fasteners are retained against separation therefrom by a magnet.

In a conventional fastener driving tool, a row of adhered fasteners, such as staples or nails, are located in the magazine, and when `the tool is operated, the end fastener is severed from the row and driven into position. The magazine is secured in place relative to the tool nose section and usually includes a rail or other support member on which the fasteners are placed and along which they are moved as the end Ones are used. In the case of staples, for example, they are formed into a glued strip that is moved along the rail by a follower member to a position where the end staple is located beneath the driving member of the fastener tool. When the tool is actuated, the end staple is driven into position through a guideway formed in the tool nose.

A magazine typical of those in use today usually includes a rail or channel member to support and guide the staples and some form of cover for holding the staples in place relative thereto. The necessary inclusion of a cover added appreciable weight and cost to the magazine. Magazines of this type were also more costly since close dimensions had to me maintained in order to properly assemble the magazine. Furthermore, the use of a top cover prevents the operator from readily ascertaining the number of fasteners remaining in the magazine and renders the magazine more susceptible to becoming clogged with dirt or other debris that may effect the operation of the magazine.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a simple, but highly eicient magazine wherein the disadvantages discussed above are obviated. The novel magazine is made of a few relatively rugged parts that are capable of long wear. The low number of parts minimize tolerance problems, and the elimination of a cover substantially reduces the overall weight and cost of the magazine and enables the operator to readily ascertain how many staples remain in the magazine.

The foregoing is accomplished by using a magnet for positively holding the fasteners in position relative to a rail or support member while permitting them to be biased into position to be driven by a suitably disposed follower. The use of a magnet eliminates the need to provide a cover in the event the staples are disposed on top of a rail support, or eliminates the need for a bottom plate if the staples are located within a channel guide.

The magnet may be located in various positions, depending on the type of fastener the magazine is designed to hold. In the various embodiments illustrated and discussed hereinafter, the magnet may be located (1) on top of a channel member within which a row of staples is disposed, (2) within a rail support over which staples are placed, or (3) as part of an assembly that is designed to form a rail support for T-nails. In each instance, the magnet retains the fasteners against being displaced from the magazine during the operati-on of the tool. To meet these ends, the strength of the magnet is designed to perform its intended function.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be understood from the following description and attached drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is an elevation view of a pneumatically opice erated fastening tool incorporating a fastener magazine embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view, showing in cross section the lower portion of thetool shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a second embodiment of the invention wherein the magnet for holding the fasteners in position relative to the magazine is disposed within a rail guide supporting the fasteners;

FIGURE 6 is a View taken along line 6 6 of FIG- URE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a further embodiment showing a magazine for T-nails and in which the magnet is disposed adjacent the Shanks of the nails.

Referring 'rst to FIGURE l, there is illustrated a fastening tool 1 including a fastener magazine assembly 2 designed to receive and direct staples into position to be driven by a fastener driving member 3 (see FIGURE 2) extending into the tool nose 4. The particular tool disclosed is pneumatically operated in that a driving piston (not shown) to which the driving member 3 is connected is operated by air under pressure that is supplied to the tool 1 through a conduit 6. The flow of the air 4to the driving piston is controlled by a trigger operated valve 7. A tool of this general type is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,084,672 to Dalton, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Turning now to FIGURE 2, there is shown, in cross section, one embodiment of a novel fastener magazine. The magazine shown therein is designed for staples and is connected at one end to a casting 5 and at its opposite end to a foot portion 11 of the tool 1. The function of the magazine is to store an adhered row of staples for use by the tool and thus must be designed to maintain the staples in place against vibration forces or tipping of the tool, while at the same time it must provide for longitudinal movement of the staples to continuously locate the end of the staple row in position to be engaged by the driving member when the tool is operated.

The end staple is biased into the guideway 14 of the nose 4, which guideway is dened between juxtaposed wall member 12 and shear block 13. The driving member 3 extends into the upper portion of the guideway 14 and is guided thereby during the driving action. The wall member 12 and shear block 13 are retained in place relative to the casting 5 of the tool 1 by bolts 15'.

The details of one embodiment of the magazine can best be seen by referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, In this embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 3, the adhered row of staples 16 is located Within an inverted channel or hatshaped member 17 that is secured to the tool foot 11 by a bolt 18 and to the tool nose 4 by suitable fastening means (not shown). The interior of the channel 17 is dimensioned to receive the particular size staples the tool is designed to handle. The lower portion of channel 17 is open and thus staples may be quickly and easily inserted therein. Similarly, the number of staples remaining in the channel 17 may be readily ascertained by merely turning the tool over and glancing therein.

In order to retain the staples Within the channel 17,

` there is provided a magnet 20 secured in place above the channel 17. The magnet as shown consists of a plurality of magnetic particles 20a embedded in a plastic carrier 20h. The plastic member is disposed within a casing 21 that is secured to the top of the channel 17. The ends of the casing and magnet are disposed in recesses defined by the nose 4 and foot 11 of the tool 1.

The strength of the magnet is sufficient to retain the staples in position within the channel member 17 during the operation of the tool and to prevent accidental displacement therefrom. The magnetic force is not such as to require an exceptionally heavy spring to move the row of staples in a longitudinal direction within the channel 17. The channel is made of a non-magnetic material, such as a non-magnetic plastic or non-magnetic stainless steel.

The row of staples 16 is biased longitudinally of the channel 17 in the direction of the nose of the tool by a resiliently biased follower 23. The row of staples passes through a slot in the shear block 13 to where the end staple 16a is disposed in the guideway 14 beneath the driving member 3. The follower 23 includes a channel section 24 corresponding to the size of the staples, which section is positioned within the channel 17 and contacts the end of the staple row. The follower 23 is biased into engagement with the end of the row of staples 16 by a negator spring 26 that has one end connected to the nose 4 and its other end secured within a C-shaped housing portion 25 of follower 23 (see FIGURE 1). The spring 26 in its extended position extends parallel to the channel 17 and thus forms no obstruction to the operator when using the tool. This positioning of the spring also prevents the spring from becoming damaged or abused during use. The portions 24 and 25 of follower 23 are interconnected by a bracket 27 that extends underneath one sidewall of channel 17 and is in guiding contact with an outwardly extending lip 17a of channel 17.

The follower 23 also includes an upwardly extending finger portion 28 whereby the follower can be grasped and moved into a latched positionto permit the introduction of additional staples into the magazine. The follower may be retained in the retracted position by moving the finger l28 rearwardly of a resilient lip 30 secured to the magnet casing 21. It remains to note that forward movement of the follower 23 is limited by engagement of an angularly extending leg 29 of follower section 24 with the shear block 13 of the tool 1, so that the follower will not travel ybeneath the driver blade and be damaged.

In the other embodiments to be described hereinafter, like parts will be given the same numbers as those employed in FIGURES l to 4.

Referring now to FIGURES and 6, it is noted that in this embodiment the magnet 20 is disposed within and secured to the horizontal portion of an inverted channel member 35. The adhered row of staples 16 straddles the channel 35 and is biased therealong by a follower assembly 36 that is disposed over the channel 35 and is slidable thereon. The housing section 38 of follower 36 contains a negator spring 25 and an outwardly extended flange portion 40 that is adapted to stop the follower so that it cannot travel beneath the driver blade and the damaged.

It can be seen that in this embodiment the magazine can be loaded by merely retracting the follower and dropping the staples on the inverted channel member 35. When in position, the staples are prevented from moving away from the channel by the magnet 20. Itis also obvious that the number of staples remaining in the magazine can be readily ascertained by merely glancing at the magazine.

When the magazine is to be loaded, the follower is retracted behind the resilient lip 30 secured to the foot portion 11 of the tool 1.

Another embodiment encompassed within this invention is a magazine for T-nails as shown in FIGURE 7. This novel magazine includes longitudinally extending guide rail 50 that is positioned to guide and support an adhered row of T-nails 51, The portion of each nail head 52 extending outwardly from the shank 53 in said roW rests on the rail 50 and is biased therealong into position to be driven by a follower 55. The follower 55 includes a C-shaped section 56 disposed about the rail 50 and in contact with the end of a row of nails. A negator spring 25 is also provided to maintain the follower in contact with the nails to bias them into position to be driven. With the nails supported on said rail, the shanks 53 extend parallel to the side wall 54 of the rail 50 and are held in position relative to the rail by a magnet 20 disposed in said side wall.

It can be appreciated that many changes and substitutions of equi-valence can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any type of magnet can be used. Also, the magnet can be designed to serve as both the retaining means and as the support member for the fasteners. Furthermore, this same type of magazine can be used for round headed nails, brads, and other types of fasteners, as Well as staples or T-nails.

It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A magazine assembly for a stapler comprising a longitudinally extending guide member dening a recess for receiving an adhered row of staples, a magnet disposed -above said member for retaining said staples within said member, a follower assembly disposed within said guide and adapted to engage and bias the row of staples into position to be driven, and means connected to the follower for biasing the follower into engagement with the end of the row of staples.

2. A magazine assembly for a stapler comprising a rail support for an adhered row of staples, a magnet located within said rail for retaining the staples on said rail, a follower assembly straddling said rail and positioned to engage said staples, a spring means connected to said follower for biasing the follower against one end of the row of staples and the end staple into position to be driven.

3. A magazine assembly for a stapler comprising a longitudinally extending hat-shaped guide'member defining a recess for receiving an adhered row of staples, a magnet secured to the upper lsurface of the guide member for retaining said staples within said guide, said magnet comprising a plurality of magnetic particles embedded in a plastic carrier, a follower assembly disposed within said guide and adapted to engage and bias the row of staples into position to be driven, and spring means connected to the follower for biasing the follower into engagement with the end of the row of staples.

4. A magazine assembly for a stapler comprising a longitudinally extending hat-shaped guide member defining a recess for receiving an adhered row of staples, a magnet secured to the upper surface of said guide member and retaining said staples within said guide, said magnet comprising a plurality of magnetic particles embedded in a plastic carrier, a follower assembly disposed within said guide and adapted to engage and bias the rows of staples into position to be driven, and a negator spring connected to the follower and extending parallel to said guide for biasing the follower into engagement with the end of the row of staples.

5. A magazine assembly for T-nails comprising a longitudinally extending rail support member dening an upper surface for supporting the heads of an adhered row of T-nails, magnetic means embedded in a side wall thereof for maintaining the shanks of said nails in position adjacent to said rail member, and means for biasing said nails into position to be driven.

6. A magazine assembly for a fastener driving tool having a tool nose and a cooperable fastener driving member movable in said tool nose, said magazine assembly comprising a fastener guide assembly for a row of fasteners, said fastener guide assembly including a support member defining a path along which a row of fasteners is adapted to be guided toward a fastener driving member, means for biasing a row of fasteners along said path and toward a fastener driving member, magnetic means along said path for retaining a row of fasteners in contact with and against said support member, whereby a rovv of fasteners is adapted to be guided along the path defined by said support member as a row of fasteners is biased toward a fastener driving member by said biasing means.

7. In a fastener driving tool having a tool nose and a eooperable fastener driving member movable in said tool nose, an elongate fastener guide assembly for a row of adhered fasteners, said fastener guide assembly comprising an elongate support member defining an elongate path along which a row of 4adhered fasteners is adapted to be guided toward said fastener driving member, means for biasing a row of adhered fasteners along said elongate path toward said fastener driving member, said biasing means being engageable with the end of a row of adhered fasteners remote from .said fastener driving member, magnetic means along said elongate path for retaining adhered fasteners in contact with said support member along said elongate path, whereby a row of adhered fasteners is adapted to be guided by said elongate support member as a row of adhered fasteners is biased toward said fastener driving member by said biasing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,528 6/1931 Peterson 227-113 3,086,207 4/1963 Lingle et al 227-130 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, IR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A MAGAZINE ASSEMBLY FOR A STAPLER COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GUIDE MEMBER DEFINING A RECESS FOR RECEIVING AN ADHERED ROW OF STAPLES, A MAGNET DISPOSED ABOVE SAID MEMBER FOR RETAINING SAID STAPLES WITHIN SAID MEMBER, A FOLLOWER ASSEMBLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID GUIDE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND BIAS THE ROW OF STAPLES INTO POSITION TO BE DRIVEN, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FOLLOWER FOR BIASING THE FOLLOWER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE END OF THE ROW OF STAPLES. 